Analysis: How the Falcons are using the salary cap in 2017

Analysis: How the Falcons are using the salary cap in 2017

The NFL is set up with a salary cap system to encourage fairly equal competition among teams and prevent domination by richer teams. This means teams have to choose which positions to spend money on and balance out contracts in order to field a complete roster.

The salary cap is what makes lucrative contracts such a danger to teams, as spending a large percentage on one player means less to spend on other positions. For example, some have been critical of the New Orleans Saints giving quarterback Drew Brees such a large portion of their salary cap. While Brees has certainly played his heart out for the Saints and deserves every penny, maybe New Orleans would be more competitive if it had more money available to spend on other positions.

It’s a delicate balancing act, deciding where to allot a team’s money and on whom. With that in mind, let’s take a look at how the Atlanta Falcons are spending their cap in 2017.

Using OTC data, here’s how each team is allocating their money spent at each position for the 2017 season. pic.twitter.com/DG8Q7fbonT

Defensive Line – 23 percent

The Falcons are spending almost a fourth of their cap on the defensive line. Most of this money is going to Dontari Poe, with a hefty $8 million against the cap to match his frame. Also, Adrian Clayborn and Derrick Shelby are pulling in $5.5 million and $4.25 million respectively. Luckily, Vic Beasley and Grady Jarrett are still on rookie contracts with numbers that are easy to swallow.

With Atlanta’s financial focus on the defensive line and the recent signing of Poe, it is apparent that the Falcons are working developing a dominant pass rush that could be the cornerstone of an up-and coming-defense.

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Wide Receivers – 18 percent

The wideouts are pulling in the next largest percentage of the salary cap, mostly in part to Julio Jones. The sixth-year All-Pro will count almost $14 million against the cap in 2017, a large sum for a player that deserves it. Thankfully, the Falcons have additional playmakers on team-friendly or rookie contracts like Taylor Gabriel and Justin Hardy to further complement their No. 1 target.

Given how lethal Atlanta’s passing game has been the last several seasons, it makes sense to focus a large portion of the cap on Jones and his fellow receivers.

Offensive Line – 17 percent

A huge reason why Atlanta’s offense was so great in 2016 was the stellar play of the offensive line. Alex Mack, the All-Pro center signed from Cleveland, anchored the middle of the line and fought hard in the trenches. Deservingly so, Mack will count most against the cap, with over $9 million going his way. Andy Levitre and Jake Matthews are also getting their fair share, with cap hits of $6.625 million and $5.25 million respectively.

As evidenced by the chart above, the Falcons are pretty much in line with the league average at 17 percent of the cap spent on the offensive line. They know that games in the NFL are won and lost in the trenches and you can’t skimp out on the line if you want to compete. However, this percentage could increase in the near future with Matthews approaching the end of his rookie contract.

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Defensive Backs – 17 percent

The Falcons have a young and improving secondary that many are predicting to take a step forward in 2017. Desmond Trufant is a lockdown corner who has the potential to be one of the best in the game. Trufant is in the final year of his rookie contract, counting just over $8 million against the cap in 2017. Robert Alford recently signed an extension, with $4 million counting against the cap. However, most of the other players in the secondary are on team-friendly or rookie contracts, giving the Falcons the beginning of a strong defense on a relatively small budget.

It is no secret Trufant wants elite cornerback money, which he deserves for his play thus far. Also, safety Ricardo Allen has massively overperformed his contract. With these players in mind, this percentage could take a huge jump in the future.

Quarterbacks – 15 percent

As the field general of the best offense in the NFL, Matt Ryan is going to be raking in the dough. His cap hit is $23.75 million for 2017, the highest on the entire team. Ryan is expected to get an extension soon that could make him the highest paid player in the league.

The numbers are not available for backup Matt Schaub’s cap hit in 2017 yet, but he recently re-signed for two years and $9 million.

Linebackers – five percent

While Deion Jones and De’Vondre Campbell impressed fans in their rookie years, they will not be counting against the cap anywhere near the capacity in which veteran players like Brooks Reed will in 2017 due to their rookie contracts.

In fact, Reed will count for over $5 million against the cap in 2017, with no other linebacker counting over $1.5 million.

Tight Ends – three percent

Levine Tolio recently signed an extension, which will count for $2.5 million against the cap in 2017. Austin Hooper is on his rookie deal, and Joshua Perkins and D.J. Tialavea were called up from the practice squad in 2016, making for little totals against the cap.

As the Falcons do not feature an elite tight end yet, they have yet to spend a significant portion of the cap on the position. However, it looks as if most of the NFL also does not spend much on tight ends, in part because they take up so few roster spots and also because there are very few elite tight ends that impact the game enough to justify a large contract.

Running backs – two percent

Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman are still on their rookie contracts, which they have out-performed thus far. Freeman is coming off back-to-back Pro Bowl seasons in which he rushed for over 1,000 yards and Coleman has become a nice speed option to complement the play of Freeman. These two lit up defenses last year and may well be the top RB combo in the NFL.

Freeman will be in his final year of his rookie contract in 2017 and his camp has already made noise about a big extension. It will be interesting to see what Atlanta comes up with for the two-headed monster in the backfield in the future.